Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Written by
Renee Geelen
Toronado added his second Listed Classic Mile winner in Hong Kong on Sunday through Little Paradise, reinforcing his growing influence at Sha Tin. With seven yearlings catalogued for the Inglis Classic – the same sale Little Paradise was sourced from – the result will be particularly welcomed by vendors preparing to offer 38 Toronado yearlings at Premier. Trainer John Size began his march to the top with a treble including a debutant by Shamus Award.
Little Paradise adds to Toronado’s Hong Kong record
Trainer Jimmy Ting won the coveted first leg of the 4-Year-Old Series as a jockey 26 years ago on Industrialist (GB) (Rudimentary {USA}), and now he has the Listed Classic Mile trophy as a trainer thanks to the two-length victory of Little Paradise (Toronado {Ire}).
He becomes the 47th stakes winner for Toronado (Ire), and his second winner in the Listed Classic Mile in the past three runnings after Helios Express won the race in 2024.
Toronado had a double at the meeting with Blazing Wukong winning for trainer Ricky Yiu, and he’s now fourth on the Hong Kong Sires’ Premiership behind Deep Field, Acclamation (GB), and Shamexpress (NZ).
He is SO GOOD! 😳
Little Paradise finds a way through to land the Hong Kong Classic Mile – the opening leg of the #4YOSeries – at Sha Tin under @Vincenthocy for Jimmy Ting! #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/SbDdThrehu
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 1, 2026
4-year-old gelding Little Paradise was trapped behind a wall of horses coming around the bend, but jockey Vincent Ho didn’t panic, guiding him between traffic, changing direction twice in search of clear running, until he flew home with a storming run to win easily over the mile.
“Once I pressed the button, he just kicked it. He finished off very well, so he can definitely handle a mile without a problem, and I told Jimmy even for 1800 metres, he will also produce that sort of kick as long as we relax him early,” Ho said.
“So, I’m looking forward to the Classic Cup and the Derby. I’m very grateful for the support I’ve had in coming back from injury and to win the Classic Mile is encouraging and I’m always grateful for everything.
“Little Paradise is a very nice horse. The main thing stepping up to the mile for him was to relax no matter what and I didn’t rush him because we couldn’t and we know he has a really good turn of foot from his last run.
“He’s a really flexible horse as well. If the pace is slow, he can be very close to the speed and still give you a give turn of foot when you ask him. So, he’s a really nice horse to handle. Also, thanks to Jimmy and (owner) Mr Ko for the opportunity.”
Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
In second was Infinite Resolve (Snitzel) with Beauty Bolt (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in third. Beauty Bolt’s rider James McDonald was suspended for one meeting and fined HK$60,000 (AU$11,000) for causing interference to Top Dragon (Pierata) at the 150 metres. Top Dragon finished in fifth, 3.3 lengths off the winner and a length behind Beauty Bolt.
The victory takes Little Paradise’s record to six wins from nine starts and earnings over HK$13.9 million (AU$2.6 million). Little Paradise was sold by Carramar Park at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $270,000 to Dullingham and Legends Bloodstock. He was catalogued for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale but withdrawn. He won a trial in Sydney almost a year later as an August 3-year-old before heading to Hong Kong.
Toronado (Ire) | Standing at Swettenham Stud
Toronado has seven yearlings in the upcoming Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, the same sale that Little Paradise was sourced from. He is also represented by 38 yearlings at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, and a further 12 at Easter.
Little Paradise is the only runner to date, from four named foals, for Devil In Her Heart (Star Witness). Carramar Park will present Little Paradise’s half-brother by Farnan at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 268.
Devil In Her Heart is an unraced half-sister to three stakes winners being G2 Emancipation Stakes winner Olentia (Zoustar), Group 3 winner Wandabaa (Wandjina), dual Listed winner Malkovich (Choisir), and stakes placed Seewhatshebrings (Sebring).
Original Article: https://www.ttrausnz.com.au/edition/2026-02-03/hong-kong-review-classic-mile-winner-adds-fresh-momentum-to-toronados-sale-season
